Daytrip to Sintra Palace

 

Location and History of Sintra Palace

28 km (17 miles) from Lisbon and a world apart lies hill town of Sintra with it’s amazing views, palaces and garden complexes, making it a perfect day trip from Lisbon.
Built by the Moors in the Middle Ages, the ​National Palace of Sintra​ was expanded by several kings over the centuries, resulting in a mix of influences from Mudéjar (an Islamic style) to Manueline (a highly ornate Portuguese style). But you don’t need to be an architecture buff to be impressed by the Coat of Arms room painted with 72 noble families’ emblems, or the restored 15th-century kitchens where regal banquets were once prepared.

Located on the top of a hill is another former royal residence, the ​Pena Palace​. It is inspired by German Romantic architecture. Ferdinand King Consort was a cousin of Mad King Ludwig of Bavaria, who build “Disney Castle” in southern Germany, therefore Sintra Palace looks like a fairytale castle with its pink and yellow towers, ornamental buttresses, and cartoonish gargoyles. The interiors are equally dramatic. Don’t miss the intricately carved ceilings and walls of Queen Amelia’s apartments and the striking all-white reception room. If it’s a nice day, purchase a combo ticket that includes access to the royal gardens.

One can easily spend 2 to 3 days enjoying this beautiful town full of palaces and gardens and its major attractions:

-Old Town with its winding streets and cobblestone roads.

-Moorish Castle, which stands above the town and dates back to the 10th century

-Palacio Nacional de Sintra with it’s unusual pair of conical chimneys, was a retreat for the Portuguese Royalty between 14th and 19th century

-Park complex with some of the most incredible hiking near Lisbon -Palacio da Pena: main attraction for the most visitors to Sintra.

Short on time we decided to make Sintra a Day trip from Lisbon, concentrating on Palacio da Pena and its gardens.

Getting there

Main ways to get to Sintra from Lisbon on your own include:

– public transportation. Trains run regularly from Lisbon main station to the town of Sintra, where you can hop on the local bus (it is quite a hike up the hill). This takes about 2 hours one way and costs roughly 15-20 Euros per person.

-by car About 30-40 min ride, but parking can be a challenge

-organized group day tour. There are many travel companies that offer this option and include stops on the way. See your hotel concierge or look up Tripadvisor. Costs vary from 50-100 euros per person.

-private car hire This is the option we took and I highly recommend it. Costs can vary depending on the vehicle and company We arranged with our taxi driver from the day before terms ahead of of the trip. 75 euros for 2 people with 2-3 hours wait time in Sintra. By far this was a great deal as we saved time and money.

We left our hotel at 9:30 am to miss a morning traffic and arrived at Sintra Palace at 10 am. Make sure you purchase your tickets ahead of the time if you are visiting in the high seasons. Lines can easily exceed 1 hour wait time. Allow at least 1.5-2 hours to see the Palace.

 

Viewing Sintra Palace.

From the main gate to the Palace you can either hike up the hill or take little shattle for extra 3 euros. If you can walk 10-15 minutes up the hill, I highly advise it. The gardens themself, as well as the view of the Palace from different angles as you approach it is worth the effort. Make sure you bring a camera. Ferdinand: King Consort, also known as the artist king, loved his adopted country of Portugal and wanted to create place that was influenced by all the styles of Portuguese architecture. The result is an amazing mixture of Moorish, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture with distinct bright colors.

Take your time walking through the gates, especially entrance arch. Notice fine ceramic tiles with the detailed artwork. While walking through the rooms of the Sintra Palace take in the details of the Arab room, main hall, Manuel’s II bedroom and Chapel’s Altarpiece. Climb many towers and Palace walls for the amazing views of the countryside, Lisbon and Tagus river. Enjoy the breezes from the Atlantic while sipping wine or coffee on the terrace bar. Slow down and enjoy life! For a day you can feel like Portuguese royalty. When you are done, walk slowly down the hill in the shades of the lush garden trees and stop to appreciate fountains and flowers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After this amazing experience all I had to do is text our driver to pick us up by the main gate and drive us back to Lisbon. It was worth every penny.